The Mistress of Spices, (1997), set in contemporary Oakland, California, is a novel by Indian American writer and University of Houston Creative Writing Program professor Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.

Tilo, the titular character, is a shopkeeper born in India and trained in magic, who helps customers satisfy their needs and desires with the mystical properties of spices.

Unfortunately, she chooses to disregard the rules of her training in her pursuit of romance and her decision to seek out customers outside her shop, which results in the spices inflicting punishment on her and those she cares about.

To save Raven from being another victim of the spices' powerful magic, she decides to leave him after one last night where they make love.

Afterwards, she accepts the punishment for disregarding the rules of her training, which results in the store being destroyed in an earthquake.